Department for Transport

Driving Licences: Applications

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there is a backlog of applications for driving licences at the DVLA; if so, what is the size of that backlog; and when they expect any backlog to be cleared.

baroness vere of norbiton: The DVLA’s online services have continued to work as normal throughout the pandemic. Drivers are advised to use the online services wherever possible as it is the quickest and easiest way of renewing a licence. Since 23 March the DVLA has issued just over 1.5 million driving licences. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is based predominantly in one building in Swansea. Due to the reduced number of staff on-site at any one time to maintain social distancing, there are delays in dealing with paper applications that have been posted to that office. The number of paper driving licence applications waiting to be processed fluctuates on a daily basis as licences are issued and new applications received. The DVLA is actively working to process these applications as quickly as possible and has reconfigured its offices to accommodate more operational staff while maintaining the two metre social distancing requirements in Wales. It is not possible to estimate how long it will take to process these applications.

Network Rail: Toilets

lord lucas: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to require Network Rail to ensure the provision of toilet facilities for the exclusive use of biologically female staff members as well as toilet facilities which can be used by all women.

baroness vere of norbiton: Network Rail provide separate facilities for women, for men and gender-neutral facilities in accordance with the Public Sector Equality Duty. Network Rail will continue to provide these facilities for their colleagues, which fully meet Government requirements.

A27: East Sussex

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what work has been done by Highways England (1) to assess, (2) to quantify, and (3) to monetise, the environmental impacts of the proposed new dual carriageway between Lewes and Polegate; and what plans they have to publish all available information produced as a result of this work.

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to publish any evidence they have received about the economic impact of the proposed dual carriageway between Lewes and Polegate on (1)Eastbourne, and (2) Polegate.

baroness vere of norbiton: Highways England’s “A27 East of Lewes Off-line Study” strategic outline business case, published in response to a Freedom of Information request represents the early work done to date to consider a new route for the A27 between Lewes and Polegate. The second Road Investment Strategy, published in March, commissioned Highways England to develop proposals for this route for possible delivery after 2025. This work is expected to explore potential options and their benefits and costs, including environmental impacts, as appropriate.

Belfast City Airport: Coronavirus

lord rogan: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with airlinesabout restoring flights to and from George Best Belfast City Airport.

baroness vere of norbiton: The Government welcomes the resumption of services to and from Belfast City Airport. We recognise that the impacts of COVID-19 on the civil aviation sector will continue for some time, and that connectivity between Northern Ireland and other parts of the UK had already been adversely affected by the collapse of Flybe. The Department speaks regularly to both airlines and airports as part of our engagement on restart and recovery in the sector and will continue to do so as we look to rebuild regional connectivity throughout the UK.

Aviation and Shipping: Exhaust Emissions

baroness worthington: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential to electrify short-haul flights and short-distance marine travel as part of a roadmap to reach net zero emissions; and to publish any such assessment.

baroness vere of norbiton: The Government is supporting the development of electric aircraft through £125 million of funding to the Future Flight Challenge. The Jet Zero Council, announced in June, will bring together DfT and BEIS Secretaries of State and CEO-level stakeholders to drive high ambition in the delivery of new technologies and innovative ways to cut aviation emissions. The potential electrification of maritime routes and use of shore power alongside to reduce emissions was assessed as part of the Department’s work to develop the Clean Maritime Plan published in Summer 2019. The research supporting the plan, including detailed consideration of the use of electrical power, has been published on gov.uk.

Railways: Electrification

baroness worthington: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to electrify railways as part of a roadmap to reach net zero emissions; and when they will publish any such plans, including any anticipated timetable.

baroness vere of norbiton: Electrification will play a significant role in our programme to decarbonise the railway. Network Rail’s ongoing work developing the Transport Decarbonisation Network Strategy will inform decisions about whether electrification or alternative technologies are the most appropriate option for each part of the network where diesel trains currently run. This work will support the Department’s Transport Decarbonisation Plan, which will be published at the end of this year.

Large Goods Vehicles: Electric Vehicles

baroness worthington: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential to install overhead cabling on highways for heavy goods vehicles as part of a roadmap to reach net zero emissions; and what plans they have to publish any such assessment.

baroness vere of norbiton: The Department is working with the Connected Places Catapult to explore and assess the zero emission technologies most suitable for heavy goods vehicles on the UK road network, including overhead cabling on highways. This work will consider the need for mass demonstration projects and the outputs will feed into the Transport Decarbonisation Plan, expected to be published by the end of this year.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Housing: Energy

baroness bennett of manor castle: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to fundenergy efficiency improvements for(1) rental,(2) council, and (3) other social, housing.

lord callanan: In his Summer Economic Update, my Rt. Hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a £2bn Green Home Grant scheme that will support homeowners and landlords of rented homes in England to improve the energy efficiency of their properties, reducing energy bills and carbon emissions, and supporting a green economic recovery.The funding will be spent on paying for accredited tradespeople to install a range of measures, for example insulation, to improve the energy performance of their homes. Further detail on the eligibility for the scheme will be announced in due course before the scheme’s full launch in the Autumn.

Industry: Carbon Emissions

baroness worthington: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have (1) to support innovation in zero emissions in primary industries and manufacturing, and (2) to de-risk investment in demonstration and deployment projects, via (a) government procurement policies, (b) loan guarantees, and (c) tax exemptions.

lord callanan: We are committed to supporting both the decarbonisation of UK industry and its competitiveness. At the 2020 Budget, my Rt. Hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that the UK Government will at least double the size of the BEIS Energy Innovation Programme to £1billion, focussed on decarbonising UK power, homes and industry to meet the challenge of net zero. Alongside support for innovation, we have a number of schemes in place to support deployment. This includes the £149 million Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund on Foundation Industries, which aims to transform certain primary and manufacturing industries to make them internationally competitive, secure more jobs throughout the UK and support innovation in zero emissions. Our £170 million Industrial Decarbonisation Challenge Fund and £315 million Industrial Energy Transformation Fund will help industry deploy low carbon technologies and put energy efficiency measures in place.

Industry: Carbon Emissions

baroness worthington: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to support innovation in zero emissions in primary industries and manufacturing, including (1) metal recycling and production, (2) ceramics and brick kilns, and (3) fertiliser and chemical production processes.

lord callanan: We are committed to supporting both the decarbonisation of UK industry and its competitiveness. At the 2020 Budget, my Rt. Hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that the UK Government will at least double the size of the BEIS Energy Innovation Programme to £1billion, focussed on decarbonising UK power, homes and industry to meet the challenge of net zero.

Electric Vehicles

baroness worthington: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for increasing the proportion of electric cars sold by introducing a trading obligation on manufacturers; and what plans they have to publish any such assessment.

lord callanan: In 2019, registrations of battery electric vehicles were at record levels. This was almost double compared to 2018 with nearly 38,000 units sold, overtaking plug-in hybrid electric vehicle registrations for the first time, at nearly 35,000 units. We are consulting on bringing forward the end to the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans from 2040 to 2035, or earlier if a faster transition appears feasible, as well as including hybrids for the first time. As part of this consultation, we are asking what the accompanying package of support will need to be to enable the transition and minimise the impacts on businesses and consumers across the UK, building on the significant demand and supply side measures already in place. We plan to conclude the consultation this summer. We are also exploring what more needs to be done to reduce carbon emissions from road transport through the Transport Decarbonisation Plan. In addition, we are investing around £2.5 billion ‎in grants to support the purchase of plug-in cars, vans, lorries, buses, taxis, and motorcycles, as well as providing funding to support the installation of chargepoint infrastructure at homes, workplaces, on residential streets, and across the wider roads network.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

China: Data Protection

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the government of China’s proposed draft data security law on UK companies with operations based in China in particular regard to the potential requirement for such companies to disclose information to the government of China about network securityin their operations in other countries.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We have noted the publication of a draft data security law and are reviewing its contents to establish the likely implications for British nationals and UK businesses in China, as well as for Chinese businesses operating in the UK. We work closely with British businesses in China to understand any issues the Chinese legal framework may raise for them, and regularly raise such issues with the Chinese authorities.

Hong Kong: National Security

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) thepotential for the government of China's nationalsecurity law to prevent the departure of citizens from Hong Kong, and (2) the implications of that law for UK citizens and holders of British National (Overseas) passports.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: As the Foreign Secretary set out in his statement to Parliament on 1 July, the Government has carefully assessed China's national security law for Hong Kong, and found that it contains a number of measures that directly threaten the freedoms and rights protected by the Sino-British Joint Declaration.In recognition of this, the Government has developed a bespoke immigration route for BN(O)s and their dependants, which will allow them to come to the UK to live, work, or study, and provide a pathway to citizenship.The Foreign Secretary has said that preventing the departure of British Nationals (Overseas) from Hong Kong would represent a serious reputational risk for China, given its role as a leading member of the international community. We continue to work closely with international partners to urge China to uphold its international commitments.The Foreign and Commonwealth's Travel Advice pages for Hong Kong have been updated since the passage of this law. They make clear that China's mainland authorities could, under certain circumstances, detain and try individuals under the terms of the new national security law. There is therefore a risk for those who commit an offence under the law of being detained and removed to mainland China. We have encouraged people to avoid protests and demonstrations.

Iraq: Internally Displaced People

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the recommendationsto the UN Human Rights Council in the report Visit to Iraq: Report of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons, published on 13 May,whatdiscussions theyintend to have with the government of Iraq about supporting "ethnic and religious minorities in achieving durable solutions for their particular situation by promoting both intercommunal and intracommunal dialogue and social cohesion, and engaging in dialogue with minorities to rebuild trust and identify solutions".

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the recommendations to the UN Human Rights Council in the report Visit to Iraq: Report of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons, published on 13 May, whatdiscussionstheyintend to have with the government of Iraq about promoting "lasting social cohesion and reconciliation in Iraqi society through education and by promoting tolerance and the values of equality and non-discrimination within schools; and promote acceptance of internally displaced children from different ethnic and religious groups, and children of families with a perceived affiliation to ISIL".

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK is firmly committed to supporting the rights of ethnic and religious minorities in Iraq. We are supporting the development of inclusive and representative reconciliation processes, involving ethnic and religious minorities, at both national and community levels in Iraq. We have also contributed £28 million to the UNDP Funding Facility for Stabilisation (FFS), which is helping to enable return of internally displaced persons, including minorities, to areas liberated from Daesh by restoring vital infrastructure and basic services.We recognise the vulnerability of children born under Daesh and the risks of them being excluded from Iraqi citizenship and society in the future. We continue to raise these concerns with the Iraqi authorities. We welcome the steps recently taken by the Iraqi Government to address the specific problem of the legal status of children born to Yezidi survivors as a result of sexual violence.

Israeli Settlements

baroness ritchie of downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent representations they have made to the government of Israel about the planned annexation of parts of the West Bank.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: As the Minister for the Middle East and North Africa made clear at the UN Security Council remote meeting on the Middle East Peace Process on 24 June, we are deeply concerned by reports that the new Israeli Government coalition has reached an agreement which may pave the way for annexation of parts of the West Bank. Any unilateral moves towards annexation of parts of the West Bank by Israel would be damaging to efforts to restart peace negotiations and contrary to international law. We continue to urge Israel not to take these steps. The Prime Minister has conveyed the UK's opposition to unilateral annexation to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on multiple occasions, including in a phone call on 6 July and a letter in June. The Prime Minister also urged Israel not to proceed in an article in Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth on 1 July. The Foreign Secretary reiterated this message in his calls with Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Gantz and Foreign Minister Ashkenazi.

Immigrants: Hong Kong

lord green of deddington: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of (1) the number of holders of British National (Overseas)status in Hong Kong, and (2) their dependants, who are expected to migrate to the UKin the next five years. [T]

lord ahmad of wimbledon: As the Foreign Secretary said in Parliament on 1 July, we constantly assess the numbers of those expected to take up the bespoke immigration route which we will put in place for British Nationals (Overseas) (BN(O)s) and their dependants. We estimate that there are up to 2.9 million status holders eligible for BN(O) passports. Of those, there are around 350,000 passport holders.However, we recognise that there will be people from Hong Kong who do not qualify for these new arrangements. The Foreign Secretary is coordinating closely with international partners, particularly those with specific and close relationships with Hong Kong, to discuss what support they might provide.

Department for Education

Sex and Relationship Education

lord pearson of rannoch: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further totheWritten Answers byBaroness Berridge on 4 June (HL4788, HL4789 and HL4790), whether parentswill have the right to withdraw primary school children from all sex education from September;and if so, how they may do so.

baroness berridge: The department is committed to supporting schools to deliver high quality teaching of Relationships Education in primary, Relationships and Sex Education in secondary, and Health Education in all state-funded schools.In light of the circumstances caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, and following engagement with the sector, the department is reassuring schools that although the subjects will still be compulsory from 1 September 2020, schools have flexibility over how they discharge their duty within the first year of compulsory teaching. For further information, I refer the noble Lord to the answer given on 10 June 2020 to Question 55660.The statutory guidance states that although Relationships Education for all primary-age pupils is compulsory, sex education is not compulsory in primary schools (excluding compulsory content covered in the science curriculum). It is for primary schools to determine whether they need to cover any additional content on sex education to meet the needs of their pupils.If a primary school chooses to teach sex education, they will be required to publish a policy on this and allow parents the right to withdraw their child. If a parent wishes to withdraw their child from sex education, this request must be complied with by the headteacher. The statutory guidance, which was published in June 2019, can be accessed via the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/relationships-education-relationships-and-sex-education-rse-and-health-education.

Schools: Absenteeism

lord storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to address the issue of children missing from school rolls.

baroness berridge: Nothing is more important than keeping children safe and in suitable education.Local authorities have a duty to make arrangements to establish, as far as it is possible, the identities of children of compulsory school age in their area who are not registered pupils at a school and are not receiving suitable education otherwise than at a school. Local authorities should trace those children and ensure that they receive full-time education.A pupil’s name can only be deleted from a school’s admission register where one of the grounds prescribed in Regulation 8 of the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 as amended has been met. All schools must notify the local authority when a pupil’s name is to be deleted from the admission register under any of the grounds prescribed in Regulation 8, as soon as the ground for removal is met and no later than the time at which the pupil’s name is removed from the register. They must provide information about the pupil to the local authority when they do so.The department has made clear the practice of off-rolling, whereby children are removed from school rolls without formal exclusion in ways that are in the interests of the school rather than the pupil, is unacceptable.To support schools to welcome back all pupils from the beginning of the autumn term, the government has published extensive guidance. We are asking schools to work with families to secure regular attendance from the start of term as this will be essential to help pupils catch up on missed education, make progress and promote their wellbeing and wider development.

Arts: Education

lord storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of schools cutting subjects from the curriculum on the need to protect arts subjects.

baroness berridge: The guidance for full opening of schools published on the 2 July makes clear that all state-funded schools are expected to re-establish a broad and ambitious curriculum and teach all subjects in their curriculum from the start of the autumn term, but can make use of existing flexibilities to create time to cover the most important missed content.This guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools.All state-funded schools in England have a duty to teach a broad and balanced curriculum. This includes English, mathematics, science, religious education and – from next academic year – relationships, sex and health education. Only maintained schools are required to teach the full National Curriculum, including art and design, and music. Academies are, however, expected to teach a curriculum that is comparable in breadth and ambition, and many choose to teach the full National Curriculum to achieve this.

Education: Racial Discrimination

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had, if any, with Universities UK about combating racism in medical schools.

lord parkinson of whitley bay: Racism is abhorrent and we all have a part to play in combating it, in higher education and more widely. Universities have a responsibility to ensure they provide a safe and inclusive environment for all staff and students. The government expects institutions to take their responsibilities, including those under the Equality Act (2010), seriously and to have in place appropriate policies and procedures to tackle racism. The government continues to work with Universities UK (UUK) to support work on implementing its ‘Changing the Culture’ framework. UUK has an advisory group to tackle racial harassment in higher education institutions, chaired by Professor David Richardson, and in March announced the appointment of independent external advisers to strengthen the work of this group. My hon. Friend, the Minister of State for Universities, wrote to Professor Richardson in April to thank him for his continued work to address racial harassment in higher education and to express her interest in the outcomes of the advisory group’s work. In addition, officials at the Department for Education regularly meet UUK to discuss progress on tackling these important issues. Furthermore, the British Medical Association has guidance, support, and information on discrimination and harassment in the medical profession, which covers racial harassment in medical schools; this is available on their website at www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/discrimination-and-harassment.

Schools: Coronavirus

baroness bennett of manor castle: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether payments for the COVID Summer Food Fund are to continue for Year 11 and 13 pupils after 26June.

baroness berridge: The COVID Summer Food Fund is available to provide support where needed to year 11 and year 13 pupils, who were confirmed as eligible and claiming benefits-related free school meals during the summer term, regardless of whether they remain registered with the school.

Ministry of Defence

National Suicide Prevention Alliance

lord tunnicliffe: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Ministry of Defence is a member of the National Suicide Prevention Alliance.

lord tunnicliffe: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many times the Ministry of Defence's Suicide Prevention Working Group met in (1) 2018, (2) 2019, and (3) 2020 to date.

baroness goldie: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is a full member of the National Suicide Prevention Alliance; the Army act as the lead point of contact for MOD. The MOD’s Suicide Prevention Working Group (now renamed as the Suicide Prevention Review Implementation Board (SPRIB)) was created in 2018 in response to an internal review on suicide within the Armed Forces. The first meeting took place on 13 November 2018, with the group meeting on three occasions in 2019 (March, May and September). The majority of recommendations were actioned within this time, yet further work was required on the key recommendation on the creation of a Defence Suicide Registry (DSR). To enable focus on this work, the SPRIB was paused until the DSR Project had completed its discovery phase, which concluded in March 2020, and the SPRIB will reconvene in the autumn. Suicide rates in the UK Regular Armed Forces have shown a declining trend since the 1990’s, and for the last twenty years rates have been lower than the general population. The suicide rate among males aged 16-59 years in the UK between the general population in 2018 (latest data available) was 20 per 100,000 compared to a UK Armed Forces rate of 11 per 100,000 in 2018. However, we are not complacent. One suicide is one too many and a tragedy for the individual, their family, friends and colleagues. The MOD and NHS(England) have jointly commissioned Manchester university to undertake a study into the factors which led to suicide for both serving and veteran personnel.

Department for Work and Pensions

Industrial Health and Safety: Factories

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what health and safety regulations are in place to protect workers' rights in clothing factories; and what assessment they have made of the adherence to those regulations of clothing factories in Leicester.

baroness stedman-scott: All workers in the textiles industry, including those working in clothing factories, have the right to work in a safe environment and are afforded protection under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and associated Regulations. Health and Safety legislation requires employers to carry out an assessment of the risks to which their employees could be exposed to and implement measures to control the risks to ensure employees are not harmed whilst at work. Specific regulatory requirements are placed upon employers, ranging from machinery safety to lifting and manual handling, dependent upon the work activity being undertaken. Workers also have the right to be provided with adequate welfare and first aid provisions and the right level of information, instruction and training to enable them to carry out their work safely. The Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) website (at https://www.hse.gov.uk/textiles/index.htm) provides specific advice for textile businesses on the precautions required in the workplace generally and during the current Covid-19 pandemic. HSE has been working alongside other government departments across a range of sectors following up reports and concerns about safety in the workplace and COVID-19 restrictions. Throughout the pandemic, HSE has actively engaged with businesses, including clothing manufacturers, by site visits and phone calls, investigating reports from those raising concerns, assessing compliance with health and safety law, and using guidance such as that published about social distancing from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19) to ensure businesses are adhering to requirements. Specifically, since the lockdown, in Leicester HSE has inspected 34 textile businesses to assess compliance with health and safety legislation. Enforcement action has been taken at 8 of these premises and further enforcement action is being considered where non-compliance with COVID-19 risk controls has been found. HSE will continue to regulate workplaces by carrying out proactive spot checks over the coming weeks to ensure that appropriate measures are in place to protect workers from COVID-19. In Leicester, HSE has prioritised these spot checks in the textile industry and will take enforcement action to secure compliance where businesses cannot demonstrate they are taking all reasonable steps to make their workplace COVID secure. HSE will also continue to respond to reports of concerns raised. (Footnote – It is usual to provide documents when web links are used in Parliamentary Questions but during the COVID – 19 outbreak Government Departments have used interactive websites that allow stakeholders to access a wide range of guidance that is relevant to their situation. These sites have content pages that link to other sites and documents.)

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Rivers: Swimming

baroness bennett of manor castle: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plansthey have to introduce designated bathing waters in UK rivers.

lord goldsmith of richmond park: Defra welcomes applications for designation as bathing waters for both coastal and inland waters such as rivers. Local authorities, groups and individuals can apply for sites to be designated. Defra encourages this by writing to the Chief Executive of every local authority in England, as well as by sending similar letters to other stakeholders like swimming associations. It is these local authorities and stakeholders who will best know which popular riverside bathing areas may be suitable for designation.

Recreation Spaces: Coronavirus

baroness bennett of manor castle: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to inform and educate the public about their rights of access to land under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 in order to improve access to green spaces without overcrowding under COVID-19 distancing rules.

lord gardiner of kimble: Providing information about access on public rights of way and open access land is a role usually performed by local highway authorities, as local access is their responsibility. We are clear that everyone should follow the Countryside Code. A key part of Government strategy involves clear and consistent messaging to key stakeholders and the media. Our messaging seeks to promote better behaviour in the countryside and encourage a partnership response. Defra is working with Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs), National Park Authorities and other Government departments to promote a series of guidance videos to educate users about travelling to and spending time outdoors safely in the wider countryside. This includes an updated Countryside Code. This guidance is available at the following links: Green space access:www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-on-accessing-green-spaces-safely The Countryside Code:www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-countryside-code/the-countryside-code

Fisheries: Greenland

lord teverson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the governments of Denmark and Greenland about a fisheries agreement with Greenland; and whether they intend to conclude any such agreement.

lord gardiner of kimble: The UK Government engages regularly with the Greenlandic authorities across a variety of policy areas. Although Greenland remains a constituent part of the Kingdom of Denmark, Greenland enjoys full autonomy in respect of its fisheries, so the UK is able to discuss fisheries matters directly with the Greenlandic Government.Defra fisheries officials have met with their Greenlandic counterparts this year. Discussions have centred on the UK's application for membership of the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC), fishery issues within the North-East Atlantic, as well as long-term bilateral arrangements. The UK's relationship with Greenland is likely to evolve further and in a positive direction as the UK goes forward as a fully independent coastal State.

Home Office

Hong Kong: British Nationality

baroness cox: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the statement by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 1 July (HC Deb, col 329) that holders of a British National (Overseas) passportresident in Hong Kong are to be offered the chance to settle in the UK and apply for citizenship, whether thatprovision extends to Hong Kong Military Service Corps veterans and their families.

baroness williams of trafford: Following the imposition by the Chinese Government of a national security law on Hong Kong that restricts the rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong in breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration, the UK Government has confirmed new immigration arrangements will be put in place for British Nationals (Overseas). As announced by the Foreign Secretary on 1 July, a new bespoke immigration route will allow BN(O)s to apply to come to the UK without the current 6 month limit, granting them 5 years limited leave to remain, with the ability to live and work in the UK, after which they may apply for settled status and a year later citizenship. This is a special bespoke set of arrangements, developed for the unique circumstances we face and in light of our historic commitment to BN(O)s in Hong Kong. Further details of the new immigration route will be announced in due course.

Hong Kong: British Nationality

lord empey: To ask Her Majesty's Government on what legal basis they offered British National (Overseas) passport-holders in Hong Kong a route to British citizenship.

baroness williams of trafford: Following the imposition by the Chinese Government of a national security law on Hong Kong that restricts the rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong in breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration, the UK Government has confirmed new immigration arrangements will be put in place for British Nationals (Overseas).As announced by the Foreign Secretary on 1 July, a new bespoke immigration route will allow BN(O)s to apply to come to the UK without the current 6 month limit, granting them 5 years limited leave to remain, with the ability to live and work in the UK, after which they may apply for settled status and a year later citizenship. This is a special bespoke set of arrangements, developed for the unique circumstances we face and in light of our historic commitment to BN(O)s in Hong Kong.We have set out our intention and will give effect to this through changes to the Immigration Rules in due course.

Asylum: Russia

lord mcinnes of kilwinning: To ask Her Majesty's Government what criteria they use to assess the risk to the lives of LGBT asylum seekers from Russia, and in particular the Chechen Republic.

baroness williams of trafford: All asylum and human rights claims from LGBT persons from Russia are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with our international obligations. Each individual assessment is made against the background of the latest available country of origin information and any relevant caselaw.The Home Office publishes Country Policy and Information Notes, which provide country of origin information, and analysis of this information, for use by Home Office decision makers assessing protection and human rights claims. Each Note provides information concerning the situation for a particular group of people in a particular country. They are published on the GOV.UK website. They are kept under constant review and updated periodically.Decision makers also have access to the latest available country information through an information request service for specific enquiries to deal with particular issues raised in individual claims

Isa Muazu

lord roberts of llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they will announce the results of their review into the deportation of Isa Muazu in 2013.

baroness williams of trafford: I am unable to comment on individual cases on the grounds of data protection principles and operational independence of the police and courts.The Home Office will however always ensure that cases such as these are handled with extreme professionalism to ensure that decisions are lawfully made in the best interests of the British public.All asylum and human rights claims are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with our international obligations. Each individual assessment is made against the background of the latest available country of origin information and any relevant caselaw.The Home Office only seeks to return those whose claims have been unsuccessful and who, by definition, do not need our protection and are not at risk on return. We work closely with other countries to ensure people are returned safely and with dignity.

Deportation

lord roberts of llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government in how many cases deportation orders have been suspended because new information has emerged following the Home Office’s decision.

baroness williams of trafford: Providing the information requested would require a manual check of individual records which could only be done at disproportionate cost.

Asylum: Deportation

lord roberts of llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps theyare taking to ensure that asylum seekers deported by the UK have access to appropriate support in their destination countries.

baroness williams of trafford: Returning nationals are the responsibility of the State that they are returning to. Failed Asylum Seekers who choose to return voluntarily can access the Voluntary Returns Service, which can provide help on a case by case basis, offering guidance and practical support including reintegration funds.

Asylum: Deportation

lord roberts of llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what information they share with the governments of destination countries for asylum seekers deported from the UK.

baroness williams of trafford: When a Failed Asylum Seeker refuses to leave the UK voluntarily then administrative removal may be sought. Most receiving countries are notified of the potential return of their national if a travel document is required to facilitate the journey. Receiving countries have differing requirements for travel documentation. This is usually limited to basic personal information and supporting evidence such as a copy of a passport or birth certificate (if available) to confirm identity and nationality. In accordance with our obligations under the Refugee Convention, EU and domestic law, we do not disclose information about an individual’s asylum claim to their home country or seek information in a way that could expose them, or any family who remain in that country, to serious risk.  All claimants are made aware that we do not disclose, to their own country, that they have claimed asylum in the UK, but we may share some information, for example, to help obtain travel documentation if their claim is refused

Detention Centres: Coronavirus

lord roberts of llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in UK immigration removal centres.

baroness williams of trafford: The safety and health of people who are detained are of the utmost importance. As of 7 July 2020, there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in immigration removal centres. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been two confirmed cases of COVID-19 in individuals in detention, a third individual was also identified but after release from detention had been agreed. None of these individuals required hospital treatment. The Home Office, its suppliers and NHS England healthcare providers in immigration removal centres are following all Public Health England guidance on COVID-19 for the management of COVID-19. The Home Office is also taking proactive steps to monitor, manage and mitigate the threat of COVID-19 to staff and people who are detained and to reduce the likelihood of the infection spreading. Guidance on managing these risks was implemented on 5 May 2020 and subsequently published on gov.uk on 5 June https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-immigration-removal-centres.

Immigrants: Detainees

baroness whitaker: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many immigration detention cases they have reviewed since the Home Office committed to reviewurgently the cases of every person held in immigration detention.

baroness williams of trafford: I refer the Noble Lady to my answer of 16 June 2020 regarding immigration detention cases reviewed, which can be found at:https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-questions-answers/?page=1&max=20&questiontype=AllQuestions&house=commons%2Clords&uin=58843

Detention Centres: Risk Assessment

baroness hamwee: To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to the findings of the reportby the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and ImmigrationAnnual Inspection of 'Adults at Risk in Immigration Detention' (2018–19), published in April; and what actions they will make as a result of its findings.

baroness williams of trafford: The Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration Annual Inspection of 'Adults at Risk in Immigration Detention' (2018–19) and Home Office response were published on 29 April 2020 and can be found at the links below:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/annual-inspection-of-adults-at-risk-in-immigration-detention-2018-19https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/response-to-the-annual-inspection-of-adults-at-risk-in-immigration-detentionAs set out the Home Office has accepted, or partially accepted, seven of the ICIBI’s eight recommendations:Continue to implement recommendations from previous related reportsAgree a cross-government strategy to reduce the detained populationReview Home Office guidance, processes and forms that relate to detention risk and vulnerabilityReview where the authority not to detain/release should sit and at what gradeProduce an improvement plan for key stages of detention (prior to and during admission and once in detention)Review the 2016 PES to accompany AAR guidanceAnalyse the treatment and conditions of detainees and Foreign National Offenders detained in prison

Crime Prevention

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to publish (1) a Green Paper or (2) a White Paper, on crime prevention.

baroness williams of trafford: The Government is committed to cut crime and ensure swift, fair and effective justice so that everyone enjoys the fundamental security that comes from living in safer streets and communities.The Government is investing in prevention to ensure that every opportunity is taken to stop these unnecessary crimes from happening. This includes our manifesto commitment to launch a new Safer Streets Fund, which will support areas in England and Wales that are worst affected by acquisitive crime to invest in well evidenced crime prevention measures.Further information on the Government’s evidence-based approach to crime prevention can be found in the published Modern Crime Prevention Strategy: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/509831/6.1770_Modern_Crime_Prevention_Strategy_final_WEB_version.pdf, which is constantly held under review. At present, there are no plans to publish a further Green Paper or White Paper on this area.

Police: Public Order

baroness jones of moulsecoomb: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they use the term "aggravated activism" in government documents relating to policing and public order; and if so, what is their definition of that term.

baroness williams of trafford: The Government does not use the terminology of "aggravated activism" in relation to public order.

Offences against Children

lord singh of wimbledon: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether their paper ongroup-based child sexual exploitation due to be published this year will include consideration of any(1) racial, and (2) religious, characteristics of group offenders.

lord singh of wimbledon: To ask Her Majesty's Government who will be the members of the Home Office's External Reference Group of experts which will review the research on group-based child sexual exploitation prior to its publication.

baroness williams of trafford: The Government is determined to ensure failures of the past are not repeated and to do all we can to bear down on offenders and support victims. That is why on 19th May the Government announced its intention to publish a paper on group-based child sexual exploitation by the end of the year, following consultation with subject matter experts.We intend this paper to present the best available evidence on this form of offending, bringing together all of the insights gathered in the course of the Home Office’s work on this issue. The paper will consider the extent to which conclusions can be drawn from available data about the characteristics of offenders and victims, including ethnicity, and the context in which these crimes are committed.Details of the membership to the external reference group, which will be asked to review the paper before its publication, will be made public in due course.

Female Genital Mutilation: Family Proceedings

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many legal challenges they have pursued in relation to the deportation of girls at risk offemale genital mutilation in the Family Courtin each of the last five years.

baroness williams of trafford: The SSHD’s role in family court proceedings which concern female genital mutilation (FGM) is limited. Often the SSHD is joined to proceedings in the Family Court so that she can be asked to disclose Home Office documents in those proceedings.The function of deciding whether the SSHD has acted lawfully in refusing an asylum claim raising FGM issues or indeed in setting removal directions for an individual whose asylum claim has been refused will normally lie with First Tier Tribunal and Upper Tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber). The SSHD brought an appeal in the case of A (A child) solely to determine a point of law, namely to ascertain the role of the Family Court in assessing the risk of FGM in the country of return, where that risk had already been assessed by the SSHD with all appeals dismissed by the immigration courts, and permission for judicial review refused.

Female Genital Mutilation: Children

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 16 March (HL2071), whether they will now answer the question put, namely, how many reports of cases of female genital mutilation, or suspected female genital mutilation, they have received under the mandatory reporting for under-18s duty in the Serious Crime Act 2015 since that Act received Royal Assent.

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures are in place to monitor and assess the effectiveness of the Mandatory Reporting of Female Genital Mutilation duty, which came into force on 31 October 2015.

baroness williams of trafford: FGM is a crime and it is child abuse. We will not tolerate a practice that can cause extreme and lifelong physical and psychological suffering to women and girls. On 31 October 2015 the Government introduced an FGM mandatory reporting duty requiring professionals to report all ‘known’ cases of FGM in under 18s to the police. Reports under the mandatory reporting duty are made to the police, rather than to the Home Office. Previously, we did not collect data on the number of FGM cases recorded under the duty. However, to improve understanding of the prevalence of ‘honour-based’ abuse, including FGM, the Government amended the police Annual Data Requirement to require police forces, from April 2019, to record where a crime has been committed in the context of preserving the ‘honour’ of a family or community. The collection includes, but is not limited to, crimes of FGM. This new collection is also capturing offences of FGM which are reported to the police under the mandatory reporting duty. Subject to data quality checks, we expect the first dataset under this new mandatory ADR collection to be published by autumn 2020. The Home Office keeps the legislation relating to FGM under review, including through discussion with statutory partners and other stakeholders.

Passports: Administrative Delays

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there is a backlog of applications for passports; if so, what is the size of the backlog; and when they expect this backlog to be cleared.

baroness williams of trafford: Due to COVID-19, Her Majesty’s Passport Office continues to operate at reduced staffing levels so its people can continue to socially distance. It is therefore taking longer than usual to process passport applications.As part of its contingency arrangements, HM Passport Office is rapidly increasing its capacity for processing passport applications, in line with public health guidance, which will help to ensure it continues to meet the travel needs of its customers.As at 7 July 2020, work in progress of approximately 126,000 passport applications is 31% higher than at the same period last year. There are a further 284,000 applications which will need to be worked through in the coming weeks once initial documentation has been received and allocated, which is an increase of 172% from last year.

Treasury

Motor Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions

baroness worthington: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential to reduce carbon emissions by introducing a road usage duty, and whetherthey will publish any such assessment.

lord agnew of oulton: UK Motorists currently pay fuel duty and VAT on fuel, which means that those who use the roads the most, and do so in higher polluting cars, pay more tax. In addition, the Government uses the Vehicle Excise Duty system to encourage the uptake of cars with low carbon dioxide emissions (CO2) to help meet our legally binding climate change targets. However, technology is changing many aspects of the economy – including the vehicles we drive – and the government is considering how the tax system will need to adapt to manage those changes.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Broadcasting: China

lord pendry: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the decision by Ofcom to uphold the Complaint by Mr Peter Humphrey about China 24 and News Hour, published in the Ofcom Broadcast and On Demand Bulletin on 6 July, what steps they are taking to protect UK journalists from serious breaches of the Ofcom Broadcasting Code by broadcasters owned by the government of China.

baroness barran: We note Ofcom’s decision to uphold Mr Humphrey’s complaint. Ofcom is an independent regulator, and decisions on broadcasting regulation are a matter for Ofcom. It is important that any licenced broadcaster abides by Ofcom's Broadcasting Code and upholds the UK’s values. The Government has taken a number of steps to support the safety of journalists and other media professionals. The Government launched a National Committee For The Safety of Journalists, bringing together representatives from government, journalism, policing, prosecution services and the civil society to make sure journalists are free from threats and violence. The Committee met this month, and will work on a National Action Plan to set out a framework through which the safety of journalists can be ensured. To mark World Press Freedom Day 2020, the Foreign Secretary issued a statement with his German, French and Dutch colleagues, calling on governments to defend media freedom. The UK also signed a statement issued by the Media Freedom Coalition on WPFD and supported a Dutch social media campaign publicly highlighting cases of journalists around the world who have been killed or imprisoned. As part of our diplomatic engagement, our network of Embassies and High Commissions continue to raise concerns about media freedom bilaterally and with international partners.

Sports: Coronavirus

lord pendry: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to reports of financial difficulties faced by local football and other sports clubs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, what assessment they have made of the role that sports clubs play in the community life of their respective towns; and what steps they are taking to provide financial assistance to clubs as a matter of urgency.

baroness barran: Sport and physical activity can help build stronger communities by bringing people together. Sports clubs and volunteers have played a huge role in supporting communities through coronavirus – re-purposing themselves to provide delivery services, food banks and volunteer support. Sport England have announced a £195 million package of support to help community clubs through this crisis. It recently boosted its Community Emergency Fund by a further £15 million to meet the demand, taking the total package up to £210 million. Football clubs can also apply to the Football Foundation’s “Club Preparation Fund” for a grant to make the necessary changes and modifications to allow them to reopen. The government is continuing to work closely with the sector to understand the issues they face and discuss how we can support them further.